Postmarking and stamp-canceling machine.



No. 689,820. Patented Dec, 24. I'90l.

.E. L. HOWARD.

PUSTM-AR KING AND STAMP CANGELING MACHINE. I (Application filed Feb.1:7, 1890.) (No Modal.) 7 Sheets-Sheet l.

No. 689,820. Patented Dec. 24, I90l.

E, Human. POSTMARKING AND STAMP GANGELING MACHINE.

I (Application filed Feb. 17, 1590 I u Model.) 7 shunt-sheet 2.

No. 689,820. Patehted Dec. 24, |9o|.

E LHowAnn. POSTIIARKING AND sum UANGELING MACHINE.

(Application filed m. 17, 1890.)

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7 Shasta-QM 3.

.THE "cams PETERS m. wl idlfo-uma, wAsmNGim m c.

No. 689,820. Patented Dec. 24, 19!. E. L. HDWARD.

PDSTIARKING AND STAMP GANGELING MACHINE. (Application filed Feb. 17,1890.) v

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Shoat 4.

"m: ncnms Ftnms co. Mp'rouma, WASHINGTON. o. c.

No. 689,820. Patentdd'Dec. 24, 1am. E. HOWARD. V

POSTMABKING AND STAMP GANCELING MACHINE.

7 shoots shoat 5.

(Application filed Feb. 17, 1890.)

(No Model.)

In: nomus PETERS no. mmouwa. wunmaron, n. u.

No. 689,820. Patented Dec. 24, l90l.-

E. L; HOWARD. POSTIABKING AND STAMP GANOELING MACHINE.

(Application filed. Feb. 17, 1890.).

7 Shoots-Shoat 6.

(No Ilodel.)

MORRIS min; 00,. PHOTO-WHO. wnsumown 0 c No. 689,820. Patented D60. 24,l90l.

E. L.-HOWARD. POSTMABKING AND STAMP CANC'ELING MACHINE.

(Application fild my. 17, 1890.) (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES 1 ATENT Prion.

ELIJAH LEAvrrT HOWAR or HlNGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICANPOSTAL MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

POSTMARKING AND STAIVIP CANCELING MACHINE.

.mrEOIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,820, datedDecember 24, 1901.

Application filed February 17, 1890. Serial No. 340,766. No mode] .1

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIJAH LEAVITT Ho w- ARD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Hingham,in the county of Plymouth and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements inPostmarking and Stamp-Canceling Machines; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and ex act description of the invention,such as will enable Others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to machines for stampcanceling and postmarkingletters, cards,.and other mail-matter and delivering the same forsorting and distribution to the mails by one continuous series ofappropriate mechanical operations,the object of the invention being toreduce the time, labor, and expense of preparing mail-matter fordistribution and mailing, to render the operation of stamping morerapidand unfailing, and to provide a reliable machine adapted to operateautomatically upon all classes and kinds of mail-matter which may bepreseutedthereto without regard to the great inequalities usual in thesize and thickness of letters and their envelops; and the inventionconsists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts,substantially as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanyingdrawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is atop plan View of my improved stamp-canceling and postmarking machinewith some of the parts removed. A Fig. 2 is a front elevation of thesame, certain of the parts being removed for convenience inillustration. Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing the arrangement of thegearing. Fig. at is a vertical sectional end elevation on the line 3 yof Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional end view of the printingandimpression rollers and the feeding devices for delivering the lettersthereto and shows the position of the parts at the time when theforwardend of a letteris being introduced between the rollers. Fig. 6 is asimilar detail view of the printing and impression rollers and showstheir position and also that of the cams and lever when the letter ispassing between them. Fig. 7 is a similar detail view to Fig. 5, takenon the line 00 00 of Fig. 1, and shows the position of the parts when noletter is passing and the feeding devices are beginning to grapple apiece of mail-matter to remove the same from the pack and put it intoposition to pass between the rollers. Fig. 8 is a similar view to Fig.7, showing the piece of mail-matter passing between the rollers, theposition of all the mechanical parts being correspondingly changed. Fig.9 is a detail end view of the printing and impression rollers, showingtheir position when no letter is passing and indicating the action ofthe cams at this time in separating the rollers, so that the impressionor feed roller may'not become soiled by contact with the dies in theprinting-roller. Fig.

10 is a detail View, in partial section, of the grappling-j awsconstitutinga part of the feed- ,ing devices, said jaws being shown asclosed and with their needle-pointsprojecting. Fig. 11 is a similar viewof the grappling-jaws shown open and having their needle-pointsretracted. Fig. 12 isa perspective view in detail of the smooth-facedjaw which operates in conjunction with the clamping-foot when the letteris beingdelivered to the printing devices. Fig. 13 is a detail plan viewof certain of the parts of the machine.

Like letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout allthe different figures of the drawings.

A designates the main frame of the machine, which may of course vary inits structure in any desired manner to permit the convenient arrangementtherewith of the several mechanical parts that constitute myimprovedpostmarkin g and stare p-canceli'ng apparatus.

B denotes-the main driving-shaft, which is journaled horizontally in themain frame. On one end of this shaft is the driving-wheel 0 or pulley B,which receives motion from any convenient source of power. On the otherend of shaft B is secured a gear-Wheel O, which imparts motion toseveral other gears whereby the printing and impression rollers, 5 theinking-roller, the feeding device's,and the packing mechanism aresimultaneously aotuated to cause a conjoint operation of all the partsof the machine.

The printing, marking, or canceling roller, 10o

cylinder, or device D, as it may be indifl'erently termed, is mountedupon a horizontal shaft D, journaled in the main frame. On this shaft,adjacent to "one end of the printing-roller D, is a circular disk orwheel D which forms a part of said roller D, said roller beingpreferably flattened instead of being completely cylindrical, and beingprovided with suitable postmarking and stamp-canceling dies insertedtherein in any desirable manner, examples of these printing-dies beingshown in Fig. 1. Likewise on the shaft D, near the end thereof, is agear-wheel G and a cam 11. The gear G engages a pinion K, turning onastud on the frame, said pinion being engaged and driven by the gear Oon the main shaft, and in this manner the printing-roller is rotated.The cam II consists of a circular disk mounted on shaft D and having onits outer face a deeply-cut eccentric groove b, which guides themovements of the end of the rocker-arm M, as will be hereinafterexplained.

The impression or feeding roller E, which supports the letter while itis being printed, has its shaft E journaled in the main frame in ahorizontal position, preferably at such points that the roller may belocated somewhat higher than the printing-roller, (see Figs. 5, 6, and7,) the two rollers being closely adjacent and adapted to revolve atcertain times in contact with each other, although there is provisionfor the intermittent separation of their surfaces whenever theprintingdies come opposite the impression-roller, so as to preventinking or soiling the latter. The roller E is preferably shorter thanthe printing-rollerD in order to give the cams R, carried by the saidroller E, opportunity to act upon the surface of the printing-roller. Onthe end of the shaft E is mounted a pinion I, that engages a pinion .I,turning on a stud on the frame, and it engages a pinion K, alreadymentioned. By these gearing connections, therefore, the impression orfeeding roller is revolved during the operation of the machine. On theimpression-roller shaft E, near to one end of the roller E, are twoduplicate circular disks or wheels E E separated from each other by ashort intervening space and of the same diameter as the roller E, saiddisks revolving in contact with the wheel D which, we have already seen,is adjacent to the printing-roller on the same shaft as the latter, andsaid disks E being similarly cut out to leave the recess or space hintheir peripheries. This space is occupied in part by 'a spring-footQ,havinga suitable width,which equals or exceeds, say, the width of thetwo disks. This foot is carried by a spring Q, fastened between the twodisks, and it hasa projecting guide-linger t', which lies between thedisks. The tension of the spring that carries the foot keeps the latterusually projected beyond the periphery of the disks, so that it will bein position to come in contact with the wheel D the result of whichcontact upon the foot will be to compress itinto recess h, thusovercoming the tension of the spring. -The practical use and action ofthe foot are to assist in clamping or drawing the letter between therollers after the grappling devices have separated it from the pack anddrawn it toward said rollers.

In the present example of my invention I have shown the printing-rolleras being carried in non-adjustable bearings, so that said roller simplyrotates and is not adjustable to- I mally revolve in contact with eachother, may

be at times separated to a greater or less degree. It will be noticedthat this springj is stronger than the spring 0 and n, as well asstronger than the spring which supports the spring-foot Q, all of whichsprings will be hereinafter mentioned in the description.

Although in this example of my machine I have shown the printing-rollerheld in nonadjustable bearings and the impression-roller in adjustablebearings, yet I do not intend to confine myself to this specialconstruction; but the reverse arrangement may be employed, if preferred,and the bearings ot' the impression -roller may be non -adjustable,while those of the printing-roller are adjustable. My aim is to soarrange the two roll- 'ers that one of them maybe yieldingly mountedrelatively to the other, and thus capable of an intermittent separation,and hence it matters not which rolleris adjustably mounted, providedthis object be accomplished.

Running through the impression or feed roller E, parallel to the shaft Eof said roller, is a rod Z, on each end of which is secured a cam B.These cams are thus pivoted, as it were, to the roller by means of theaforesaid shaft, so that the latter serves as the center on which theyturn. They have a curved edge or ontline,which is adapted to comeintocoincidence with the periphery of the ends of the roller, as seen inFig. 6, but which is adapted to project beyond said periphery, as shownin Figs. 4, 5, and 9.

S denotes a catch or controlling-lever which is pivoted at m to one endof the roller E in close proximity to the yielding foot Q. A fiat springa, secured to the lever S near its pivotal point, and resting at itsother end upon the shaft E or some other convenient object, serves toforce the catch-lever S outward into the letter-path with its end beyondthe periphery of the roller E, in which position it rests upon a pin'12., which keeps it from moving too far outward by limiting suchmovement. Further, the lever S carries a pin 0, and when said lever isheld by spring a in the position where it projects past theroller-periphery into theletter-path and bears on pin it, as clearlyindicated in Figs. 5 and 9, said pin 0 rests beneath the end of the camR on that end of roller where the catch or controlling lever is pivoted,and thus serves to maintain both the cams in the position where theyproject past the roller-peripheries, said position of the cams havingbeen assumed under the action of the spring 0, which is connected to theend of one of the cams R on the other. side of the pivotalpoint and alsoto the roller E. (See Figs. 5, 6, and 9.) So long as the catch-levermaintains its projecting position in the lever-path it will be obviousthat any agency pressing upon the edge of the cams will be unable torotate them, since they will be held rigidly by the supporting-pin onthe catch-lever. Therefore if the impression-roller rotates with itscams in the projecting position they will act when they come in contactwith the printingroller to separate the two rollers slightly,the'adjustable character of the impression-roller bearings permitting thisyielding movement. Suppose, however, that some agency shifts thecontrolling-lever S from its normal position, as indicated in Fig. 5,into the position shown in Fig. 6, and thus removes the pin 0 .frombeneath cam R. Then the cam R no longer having any support to holditoutward, except the spring, may easily be forced inward, and hence ifthe feeding-roller revolves its contact with the printing-roller will bemaintained throughout the entire revolution and there will be notemporary separation of the rollers, as the cams, being no longer rigid,

will yield when they touch the printing-roller. Now it will be observedthat when the controlling-lever S is in its projecting position it willlie in the letter-path and its extremity will be in close proximity tothe yielding foot Q. If no letter passes between the rollers, then noagency will act upon the controlling lever to depress the same, and itwill keep its position shown in Fig. 5, and the rollers will beseparated at the proper time to avoid the soiling of theimpression-roller by the printing-dies; but if a letter does pass itwill be drawn between the rollers by the foot, and hence'will be made tobear'upon the controlling-lever, and in this way said lever will bedepressed, (see Fig. 6,)and therefore as the letter passes between therollers it will be postmarked and its stamps will be canceled, for thetwo rollers being in contact the letter will be moved carefully betweenthem and the printing dies permitted to register a neat mark. As theimpression-roller is yielding, it will be obvious that the machine willoperate equally well with letters, cards, newspapers, and all otherkinds of mail-matter, no matter what may be the size, thickness, orshape. This construction, whereby a cam or cams are made use of tointermittently separate the two rollers, forms an important feature ofthe present invention. The mechanical idea which is found in thisconstruction includes, of course, two rollers yieldingly mounted withrespect to each other, one of which rollers or its shaft is providedwith a cam; also, the lever which extends into the path of themail-matter and acts in conjunction with the letter to control theoperation of the cam, and thus permit'the letter to be printed as itpasses between the rollers. Thus it will be seen that the arrangement ofthe cam may be varied without departing from the spirit of thisinvention. Instead of two duplicate cams affixed rigidly to the ends ofthe rod, as shown, one or more cams may be arranged in a differentmanner upon the impression roller shaft, and likewise the projectinglever in the letter-path may be differently located and may operate in adifferent manner to accomplish its purpose.

T denotes a platform that supports the cards, letters, envelops, orother pieces of mail-matter to be printed or canceled, said pieces ofmail-matter being arranged upon the platform in an inclined edgewiseposition, so as to be more easily delivered by the feeding mechanism tothe rollers. Below the rollers is an incline T, on which the pieces ofmail-matter fall after being printed and by which they are delivered tothe 'packing devices at the base of the machine.

Across the top of the machine extends a horizontal rock-shaft P,journaled in suitable bearings in the frame. To one end of i this shaftis secured an arm 0, which is pivoted to a link N. The other end of thislink is pivoted adj ustably to one end of a rockerarm M, which isfulcrum'ed on a stud on the side of the frame. This rocker-arm has aslot 6, which receives a pin f on the link N, said pin beingscrew-threaded and provided with a nut g, so that by these means theconnecting point of the link with the rocker-arm may be varied withincertain limits to suit different cases. The other end of the rockerarmis provided with a roller cl, which enters and operates within thecam-groove b. When the machinery is in motion, the rocker-arm willvibrate at each revolution of the cam, and,

this through the connecting devices just described will oscillate therock-shat t P and operate the feeding mechanism. This feeding mechanismfor delivering the letters separately to the rollers is constructed andarranged as follows: It consists, essentially, of a grappling mechanismor separator comprising jaws U U, that are pivoted horizontally attheir'inner ends by means of the same pivot to a right-angled or othersuitablyshaped frame U, suspended rigidly upon the rock-shaft P. Thesejaws are so constructed and arranged as to open and close alternatelyunder the reciprocal or vibrating movement of the rock-shaft I. Each jawU is provided with needles p p for engaging the cards, letters,envelope, or other material upon the platform T, and thus separating andfeeding IIO v f, i

and they play through slots and holes in the forward portion of theframe U, on each side of which the grappling -jaws are arranged and tothe rear of which they are pivoted, as we have seen. Also said jaws areconnected to the frame U by means of springs 12' p, which tend to drawthe jaws toward each other, and consequently toward the frame U, andhence to project the needlepointspp beyond the face of frame U. To

the frame above the jaws is pivoted a catchlever q, whose lower end liesand works between the said jaws, which are recessed at one point toreceive the end of lever q loosely, I 5 (see Fig. 10,) and when the endof the lever is within this recess the jaws are closed and theneedle-points projected. The lever q is so arranged that during theoscillations of the rock-shaft P its central part encounters an arm Ufastened to the main frame, and this results in moving the lever on itspivot and forcing it out of the recess between the jaws, so that it willpass between them in such a manner as to separate them, as shown in Fig.11, and this movement opens the jaws and withdraws the needle-pointsfrom their exposed position. The reverse motion of lever q also takesplace at the proper time, when its extreme upper end strikes arm U andcauses its lower end to drop back into its recess, and thus the jawsclose themselves under the ac tion of the springs 12 19. It will beobserved that as the jaws U U are carried against the envelops or cardsby the vibration of the rock- 5 shaft P said jaws are caused to closeagainst the adjacent card or envelop sufficiently to project theneedles 1) p thereinto, as shown in Fig. 7. As these needles are inconverging lines, they are capable of separating the 40 first envelop orcard from the pack when the rock-shaft in its backward movementwithdraws the grappling-jaws, and the converging needles will thus holdand carry the card or envelop back, as shown in Fig. 8, in position tobe passed between the cylinders. When the jaws U U are thus swung back,a corresponding rotary movement will of course be imparted to therock-shaft P, the position of which in front of the pack of cards orenvelops enables it to act as a stop to prevent the succeeding cards orletters from falling forward.

The backward movement of the jaws U U brings the lower end of the letteror other piece of mail-matterin contactwiththe clamping-foot Q, abovedescribed, which may be provided, if desired, with needles or pointeddevices, which are thus brought into contact with the letter, thefeeding-cylinder E, to which this clamping-foot is attached, having itsrotation so regulated as to bring said foot into position to engage theletter at the proper time.

The backward movement of the card or en- 6 5 velop or other piece ofmaterial under the action of the grappling-jaws, as already described,is followed by the upward and forward movement of the smooth-faced jawV, which is pivoted to the end of a lever V,which is pivoted to the mainframe at V, which jaw is operated by a pin, roller, cam, or projection ron the end of the printing-roller. (See Fig. 7.) The action of thissmooth-faced jaw V is so regulated as to cause it to meet the yieldingclamping-foot Q on the opposite cylinder at proper intervals, the lowerend of the card or letter being then interposed between said jaw andfoot, as shown in Fig. 8, and the card, envelop, or letter is thusconveyed between the cylinders by the clamping-foot. After the card,envelop, or other material has thus been printed or canceled by passingbetween the cylinders the continued action of the mechanism separatesand brings down other material from the pack upon the platform piece bypiece in a similar manner.

It is obvious that the grappling-jaws can be arranged in either avertical or horizontal position and also that the relative arrangementof other parts of the mechanism can be correspondingly varied withoutaflecting the operation of the devices. With a machine embodying thefeatures above described cards, envelops, letters, or like material canbe rapidly and accurately fed to the printing or canceling cylinderswithout the employment of friction or suction devices.

In order to prevent the. lower edges of the cards, letters, orenvelopsfrom spreading fanlike over the platform '1, and thus obviating anyliability of more than one piece being fed to the rollers at one time, Imay arrange a blunt-pointed needle or rod WV through an aperture in saidplatform just in advance of the line of envelops, as shown in thedrawings. The lower end of the rod or needle IV is connected to one armof a bell-crank W, that is pivoted on the main frame and is oscillatedby a cam VW on the driving-shaft B, (see Fig. 2,) the mechanism beingtimed with the feed in such a manner that the rod or needle W willreciprocate vertically through an opening in the platform T in season topermit the separation and withdrawal of the end card or envelop next tothe gripping mechanism, while it prevents the removal of the succeedingone until the proper time arrives. The letters, cards, or envelops uponthe platform are thus prevented from spreading fanlike'over its surface.

In Fig. 7 no letter is passing between the rollers, but a paper has justbeen detached from the bundle of mail-matter by the grip ping devicesand is about to be delivered to the rollers. The edge of the bundle ofmailmatter is substantially upright in this figure, being so held by therod W, which has been projected forward alongside of and in front,

thereof after the removal of the piece of mailmatter from the bundle.

In Fig. 5 the edge of the bundle has fallen forward in consequence ofthe depression of the rod W, so that it no longer acts as a stay for thebundle, and while in this position the outermost letter of the bundlewill be picked ,therefrom by the gripping devices as soon as the latterhave completed the deliveryof the preceding letter to the printingdevices.

Two structural features in this invention are particularly noticeable.One is a printing-couple, one member of which is yielding, so that thecouple is not arranged for printing except when a letter passes, becausewhen no letter or mail-matter is passing the printing member of thecouple revolves continuously in contact with the impression member withthe exception of an intermit tent momentary separation of the twowhenever the printing-dies come nearest the impression member. When aletter does pass, however, it comes in contact with a lever extendinginto the letter-path, which contact results in depressing the lever andacting upon separating mechanism for the members of the printing-couple,so that the intermittent momentary separation of the two members doesnot take place, but they remain in contact with the other and print theletter. Theletter therefore acts in conjunction with the lever in theletterpath to permit the printing member of the printing-couple,which inthe present instance is a roller, to perform its printing function.

It will be understood that the primary object of a construction of thiskind is to enable a printing-roller to revolve in close contact with animpression-roller and yet never soil or ink the surface of the letter.This object is fully accomplished, and successfully, by my improveddevice. When a letter does not pass between the rollers, they revolvefreely, but are intermittently separated, so that the dies never soilthe surface of the impression-roller. Hence when a letter does pass thesurface of the impression-roller is smooth and clean and the letter isnot defaced by contact with said roller, but passes easily between thetwo rollers and is printed in the desired manner, the cancellation andpostmark being impressed at the proper point on the face of the envelop.

F denotes the inking-roller. It is arranged in close proximity to theprinting-roller, so that by contact therewith it may deliver ink to thelatter. This roller is mounted on a shaft F, having a gear a on its end,which engages the gear 0, whence the inking-roller derives motion.The'inking-roller shaft F is supported in bearings in the ends of armsprojecting upward from a sleeve F on the main driving-shaft B, (see Fig.2,) which sleeve has a downwardly-extending arm F whose lower end entersa notch in a slide F. This slide is adjusted by means of a setscrew 8.By manipulating this screw and reciprocating the slide to a greater orless extent in one direction or the other the sleeve on the main shaftmay be correspondingly oscillated and the inking-roller adjusted withrelation to the printing-roller, being brought into close contacttherewith or removed from contact, Whichever position of theinkingroller may be desirable and needful.

Journaled in the base of the machine is a horizontal shaft X, which isprovided with a pinion L, engaging another pinion L,turning on a stud onthe frame, and pinion L is in turn engaged and actuated by the gear 0 onthe main shaft. The shaft X carries a series of several Wheels or cams,which in the present example of the invention are pentagonal wheels X,or wheels having a five-sided periphery. Other kinds of polygonal wheelsmay be used, if desired, in lieu of the pentagonal form. As the canceledor printed letters drop down the incline T and fall in an inclinededgewise position the packing-cams will revolve against them and operateto pack them in a continuous series. (See Fig. 4.) A stop X may beemployed, between which and the packing-cams the line of letters will bearranged by the action of the cams thereon, which cams propel theletters in a continuous series toward the said stop. Shaft X carriesalso a cam X operative upon an arm of the slide X which acts as a pusheron the letters, so that tho packer may not become clogged.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new,and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with the two rollers or cylinders, one of which isyieldingly mounted relatively to the other, of one or more yielding camson one of the rollers and a lever in the letter-path likewise pivoted toone of the rollers and operating in connection with the cam.

2. In a letter stamping or marking machine, the combination of amarking-roller, a rollerbed yieldingly arranged opposite themarking-roller for supporting the article to be marked and a lever inthe letter-path together with a yielding cam on one of the rolls.

3. The combination with the yieldingly-an ranged letter-supportingroller, of feeding devices for moving the letter to said roller, amarker and a lever in the letter-path operating to permit themarking-roller to print, together With a yielding cam on one of therollers.

i 4:. The combination with the two rollers or cylinders, one of which isyieldingly mounted relatively to the other, of one or more cams on oneof said rollers and a lever in the letter path pivoted to the rollerhaving the cams and operating to sustain said cams in their projectedposition where they act to intermittently separate the rollers exceptwhen a letter acts in conjunction with the lever to depress the same andrender the cams idle, together with a spring which acts to place thecams in their projected position.

5. I The combination with the two rollers or cylinders, one of which isyieldingly mounted relatively to the other, of a cam on one of saidrollers, a lever in the letter-path operating in connection with thecam, and the yielding clamping-foot, together with the jaw whichoperates in connection with said foot.

6. The combination with the two rollers or cylinders, one of which isyieldingly mounted relatively to the other and a cam on one of therollers,a lever in the letter-path connected with said cam, the yieldingclamping-foot and the smootlrfaced jaw which assists in passing a letterbetween the rollers, and the feeding devices for delivering the lettersto the rollers.

'7. The combination of a marking-roller and an impression-roller, one ofwhich is yieldingly mounted relatively to the other, said rollers beingintermittently separated when no letter is passing, the cams, one oneach end of one of said rollers affixed to a pivotal rod running throughit, and the lever in the letter-path pivoted to the end of said rollerand having a pin which supports the cams in their projected position,together with the spring for said lever and the spring for the cams,substantially as described.

8. In a stamp-canceling and postmarking machine, the combination of themarkingroller having a pin or projection on the end thereof, theimpression-roller which is yieldingly mounted relatively to themarkingroller, the cams at each end of the impression-roller secured tothe pivotal rod passing through the same, the spring-actuated lever inthe letter-path pivoted to the end of the impression-roller andoperating in connection with the cams, the yielding spring-providedclamping-foot, the smooth-faced jaw pivoted to the lever which ismovably connected to the frame and operated upon by the pin on themarking-roller, substantially as described.

9. In a stamp-canceling and postmarking machine, the combination of thefeeding devices, consisting essentially of grappling needle-providedjaws that engage the letters as specified, the marking-roller andyieldingly-mounted impression-roller, the cams at each end of theimpression-roller affixed to a pivotal rod running through the same,said cams being provided with a spring whereby they are projected, thespring-actuated lever in the path of the letter operating in connectionwith the cams, and the smooth-faced clamping-jaw pivoted to a leverwhich is acted upon by a pin on the end of the markingroller, togetherwith the yielding clampingfoot, substantially as described.

10. In a stamp-canceling and postmarking machine, the packing mechanismconsisting in the combination with a rotary shaft, of a series ofpolygonal wheels secured thereon, and a pusher device.

11. In a stamp-canceling and postmarking machine, the combination withthe marking and impression rollers, of the incline located below thesame, down which the letters fall, and the packing devices arranged atthe base .of said incline and consisting of a horizontal rotary shaftand a series of polygonal wheels secured on said shaft and acting topack the as described.

12. The combination of the marking-roller and its shaft, having thereona gear and a cam-wheel, having on its outer face an eccentric groove,the impression-roller and its shaft having thereon a gear, theintermediate pinions connecting said gears, the main driving-shaft andits actuating-gear engaging one of said pinions, the rock-shaft carryingthe feeding devices, the rocker-arm pivoted to the main frame and havingone end provided with a roller which enters the cam-groove and is thusoperated by the cam on the marking-roller shaft, the other end of saidrockerarm connecting by a link with an arm on the aforesaid rock-shaft,substantially as described.

13. The combination of the marking-roller and its shaft having thereon agear and a camwheel, the impression -roller and its shaft having thereona gear, the intermediate pinions between said gears, the maindrivingshaft and its actuating-gear which engages one of said pinions,the inking-roller and its shaft having thereon a gear meshing with themain actuating-gear, the rock-shaft carrying the feeding devices andprovided with an arm, the rocker-arm pivoted to the main frame andhaving one end thereof operated by a camwheel on the marking-rollershaft, while the other end connects loosely by a link with therock-shaft arm, the packing-wheels and their shaft having thereon apinion operated by an intermediate engaging the main actuatinggear, allsubstantially as described.

14. In a stamp-canceling and postmarking machine, the combination withthe markingroller, of an inking-roller whose shaft is supported by armsconnected to asleeve mounted on the main driving-shaft, said sleevehaving a downwardly-projecting arm which is engaged by a slide governedby a set-screw so that the position of the inking-roller may beregulated with respect to the marking-roller, all in combination withthe main shaft on which said sleeve is mounted, as described.

15. In a stamp-canceling and postmarking machine, the combination withthe letter plat form, of a vertical pointed rod projecting through thesame, a bell-crank pivoted to the main frame to which the lower end ofthe rod is connected and the main driving-shaft and a cam thereonoperating upon the other arm of the bell-crank to move said rod so as toenable it to serve as a letter stop and soparator, as specified.

16. In a stamp-canceling and postmarking machine, the combination of themarkingroller, the impression-roller yieldingl y mounted with relationthereto, the cams R R at each end of the impression-roller aflixedrigidly to the pivotal shaft l running through the same, the spring 0connected to the end of one of the cams and to the impression-roller,

the lever S in the letter-path having the spring n which keeps the levernormally projected, the stop-pin-n on which the lever S bears and a pin0 carried by said lever and resting beneath one of the cams R for thepurpose of keeping the latter'normally projected, substantially asdescribed.

17. In a stamp-canceling and postmarking machine, the combination of themarkingroller D, having on the end thereof a pin r, theimpression-roller E, carried in adjustable spring-actuated bearings, thecams R R at each end of the impression-roller rigidly affixed to thepivotal rod Zrunning through the same, spring 0 acting on the cams, thelever S in the letter-path having the spring 71, said lever beingpivoted at m to the impressionroller and carrying the pin 0 that restsbeneath one cam R for the purpose stated, the stop-pin n on which thelever S bears, the yielding clamping-foot Q having the projecting finger'5, the smooth-faced jaw V, pivoted to the lever V, which lever isoperated by means of the aforesaid pin 1 on the markingroller, allsubstantially as described.

18. The combination of the packing'mechanism consisting of thehorizontal rotary shaft having one or more polygonal wheels securedthereon, a cam likewise on said shaft and a pusher sliding beneath theshaft and operated by said cam, substantially as described.

19. The combination of the shaft with its packing-Wheels the cam and thecam-operated pusher, substantially as described.

20. The combination with the rotary shaft and a packer thereon, of thecam and the pusher operated thereby.

21. The combination of the shaft and rotary packing devices thereon, ofa pusher likewise actuated by the shaft.

In testimony whereof I affix my'signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELIJAH LEAVITT HOWARD.

Witnesses: I

GEO. WM. ESTEBROOK, HENRY E. WAITE.

